Sunday, January 06, 2008

THE CAT HOUSE by Stacey

I present (drum roll, please).......THE CAT HOUSE. This is my Christmas and Anniversary present from my Dragon. Most of the regulars here know that back in the summer, I was forced to evict Casper and Punkin (AKA King Feline Evil Demon Devil Cat and Prince Not So Annoying) from our house and into the yard. This was only after we installed a cat fence so that they would be totally contained in our yard and therefore SAFE. They developed a terrible habit of peeing all over the house, and after the carpet and entertainment center were destroyed, the scaly one put his foot down. They either went outside, or they went.

It was hard for me, but as it turns out, they love being outside, especially Casper. I was fine with it until fall came and I started thinking about winter and how cold it would get. Dragon knew I was going to worry myself into a tizzy over this, so he decided to build a house for the cats, so they would have shelter from the elements. He never knows what to buy me, so he figured this would be a good way out of getting me any presents.

As you can see, it is quite well built and very roomy. Not to mention totally insulated, as you can see from the in progress picture. It is wired and has electricity, and there are 2 nightlights inside for light and to generate some warmth. This also allows for the nice heated water bowl to be inside the Cat House (thank you Auntie Sandy for this lovely bowl), so that they always have clean, fresh, unfrozen water.

There is the small window on the side that is visible in the picture, and there is a much larger window on the backside of the house. Both windows are at ground level, so that kitties can lounge in interior comfort and still see the goings on outside. Both windows are covered in Plexiglas to keep in the warmth. There is also a security light on the backside of the Cat House, as well as the two nightlights outside the front door. Daddy Dragon wants his babies to be safe. All the lights are on an electric eye, so they come on at dusk.

The vinyl siding matches our house, and if you look carefully you will note that the Cat House is on a poured concrete foundation and is fully shingled. And yes, the only Christmas decorations that made it on the outside of our house were the icicle lights on the Cat House. There are two cat beds inside, as well as two comforters, plus a pillow on a wooden Coke case if they want to be up higher. All in all, they are living in the lap of luxury.

And they LOVE it. Just look at that first picture again if you doubt it. Casper truly looks like the King Feline that Dragon calls him as he reclines in his doorway. It still amazes me the extent that a husband will go just to ease the mind of a wife. Sorry, Daisylouu, but I think I’ll keep him.

I saw this house first hand and it's GREAT! Some people dont' have it as good! LOL. They also have a big, level yard and a cat fence, so those cats have it made!

I'm all for cats being inside only, but the only consideration really is safety. After Yogi died, I couldn't have an outside cat again, unless it was fenced.And when Tarzan came along, he was used to the pleasures of outside, so now he has both worlds in safety.

I know lots of people who have cats that go out with no fence,of course, and they can do fine, as long as they aren't by a busy road. But there's always that chance of harm, like what happened to Yogi here on a dead-end road in the boonies. But it's better a cat have a home and care inside or out than to be a stray who has to hunt for food and who never gets vet care. And cats stick to their territory and as long as they are neutered or spayed they aren't bringing more into this world.

Tarzan would be miserable inside only, because he had a big taste of outside. But for a cat that is used to inside only and if they get enough play pouncing for prey, they are happy as clams!

Darn right you should keep him Stacey! The man in this house can barely change a lightbulb! We also have a pisser-cat so I understand firsthand how stressful it can be. You take up the carpet, they find a pile of laundry, you move the laundry, they find the sofa cushion....it's endless. You have the perfect solution. I'm so glad it worked out for you, it's an absolutely BEAUTIFUL house....and those kitties should be featured on the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"

Okay, when Dragon comes dragging a$$ in with Smokey from one of their nights of girly watching at Hooters and he misses the toilet, I think he should be put in the yard too! LOL... That is a beautiful Cat House and I am impressed with the Dragon boys’ abilities! He needs to come to our house and help the Saint build us a shed for our lawnmower which is about to be booted from the garage. I am tired of running into it with the new car!

Okay Dragon boy, you said the garland over my toilet was a bit much yet you have put two Wreaths and Christmas lights on the Cat House… Hummmm will have to ponder that one a bit….Give me a break here…. Ah, that gives me an idea for next year. Garland around the girls toy basket!

Ah, the debate on inside or outside for a cat… Sheba was a happy outside cat when she wandered up from the woods with her baby Cheetah. Sheba had no plan to become a house cat as the Plan was to dump her kitten off with me and she would continue being a bird hunting Grizzly Adams cat of the wild! But I turned her into one happy house cat. She resented us for a year if not longer then decided the life of an indoor cat was not so bad after all. She's always dry during a storm, Food bowl always full, Water bowl always full, lots of mice, (toys of course) to pounce upon, tons of kisses and hugs from us and a warm cozy bed to sleep in! She gets her outside stimulation from the bird feeders through the sunroom windows too. But I am sure, if she were to ever get outside, she would revert back into that wild cat of the woods! But I will do my best to keep that from happening...

Pet People
Sandy Britt, an animal welfare advocate and volunteer with Clarksville rescue organizations, takes care of three dogs: Zoe, Scooter and Peanut; two cats: Catfish and Tarzan; and one husband, Glen, and according to him she takes care of them in that order.